Thanks for your input jpanderson80 and others. thanks Its much appreciated and needed. By any standard, at last in my world, this is a major purchase. It has to be correct in all regards.

I keep coming back to the Epic shell. Waterproof material (not the seams) has its benifits, especially in that freeze thaw temperature range.

Is it worth the extra four ounces - my, what a choice to have to make. eek